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Nova Scotia has recorded its heaviest ever permitted road transport, a 97,000 kg transformer moved just 36 kilometers after arriving at the Port of Halifax. The project, coordinated by HBH Canada Inc., faced multiple setbacks but was ultimately completed within a narrow time frame.
Permits and Planning
Transformers of this size typically require close to a year of preparation, but HBH managed to deliver the project in less than three months. The challenge began shortly after arrival when the unit was scheduled to move part of the distance by rail. That plan was disrupted after the provincial Department of Transportation (DOT) issued a permit and then withdrew it due to an error, leaving the team with no approved transport route.
Road Route as the Only Option
With rail no longer viable, the transformer had to make the journey entirely over the road. At 8.0 meters long, 3.1 meters wide, and 3.97 meters high, the transformer demanded extensive coordination. The complete truck and trailer configuration stretched to 51 meters in length with a gross weight of 167 tons. The move itself, though just 36 kilometers, required months of planning and careful route analysis.
Team Effort and Execution
According to Matthias Gollmann, Branch Manager at HBH, the situation required persistence and close coordination with the Nova Scotia DOT to secure a viable path. Gollmann’s team identified the only route that could accommodate the transformer’s dimensions and load. Once cleared, the actual road transport took six hours from departure to arrival, marking the completion of Nova Scotia’s largest permitted heavy-haul project to date.
